Chapter 1

"Master..."

A soft call pulled Fang Xiu back from his daze to reality.

He looked around, somewhat bewildered.

The bustling street, the closely packed shops, and... the people dressed in ancient attire.

He probably, maybe, really had traveled through time.

"Master, what's wrong?"

A man in a blue robe and cap stood beside him, his smile filled with fawning flattery.

Bai Xiaochun.

The favorite servant of Lord Anping.

The most sycophantic of all sycophants.

Perhaps due to the integration of his past life's memories, Fang Xiu didn't feel repulsed by him. He waved his hand and asked, "Where are we?"

Bai Xiaochun bowed and lowered his head, saying, "Master, ahead is the Drunken Flower Pavilion."

The Drunken Flower Pavilion was a tavern in the capital, surrounded by mountains and water.

Even in the most prosperous capital of Chu, it was a unique place.

Fang Xiu had come here for a banquet, one held in his honor.

Thinking about the reason for his arrival, he felt even more depressed.

In his past life, he had been an orphan who had worked hard to get into a 985 university for a master's degree in Chinese literature.

During his studies, he had also obtained a master's degree in history.

Even if he didn't have a bright future, staying on as a lecturer would still be a respectable and glorious position, a complete turnaround from his previous life.

But when he woke up, he found himself inexplicably in ancient times.

In a Chu Kingdom he had never heard of, even with his master's degree in history!

Though he was a noble's son, how could it compare to the carefree and enjoyable life in the modern world...

Over the past two days, he had come to terms with a lot.

Even if he couldn't return to the past, living a comfortable life as a spoiled noble with a beautiful wife wasn't bad.

But fate had played another trick on him.

News came from the palace that the current emperor intended to marry his youngest daughter, Princess Anle, to him!

You've got to be kidding me!

Throughout history, which noble son would willingly marry a princess?

A prince consort, in reality, was just a slave to the princess.

Not to mention Princess Anle's appearance and personality...

Just the title of prince consort was embarrassing to say.

When he first heard the news, the entire Anping Manor was in chaos.

Especially "Fang Xiu," who, thinking about the dark and bleak life after marrying the princess, fainted from the shock.

When he woke up again, it was the Earth's Fang Xiu who had taken his place.

"Ah..."

Fang Xiu sighed.

His old friends, upon hearing the news, had specially arranged a banquet at the top-tier tavern, the Drunken Flower Pavilion, in the capital.

They said it was to congratulate him, but mostly to see the spectacle.

He had wanted to refuse, but in the end, he decided to attend the banquet.

There weren't many days left of his carefree and enjoyable life, so today would be his last indulgence before marrying the princess.

Fang Xiu shook his head, dispelling the gloom in his heart, and walked toward the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

Splash—

At that moment, a splash was heard from the lake near the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

"Miss Wanqing has fallen into the water, quick, save her!"

On the painted boat in the center of the lake, a heavily made-up middle-aged woman shouted in panic.

Gulp—

The woman who had fallen into the water didn't struggle and sank straight to the bottom of the lake.

Surrounding tourists rushed over, and one by one, the young nobles and literati pointed and discussed the scene.

They shook their heads and wagged their tongues, but no one jumped in to save her.

"Didn't you see someone fall into the lake? What are you standing there for? Quick, save her!"

More and more people gathered to watch, many shouting to save her but standing still.

The loudest one was standing to Fang Xiu's left, his eyes fixed on Fang Xiu, occasionally showing a look of disdain.

Fang Xiu glared at him.

You're shouting so loudly, why don't you jump in yourself?

"That person looks decent, but when it comes to something real, he becomes a coward. What a shame to have so many guards with him.

Ah, the world is truly cold and indifferent..."

The man seemed to be speaking casually, but his gaze kept flicking toward Fang Xiu, making it clear who he was referring to.

Fang Xiu took a deep breath.

So this guy is a hater of the rich, looking for trouble!

Bai Xiaochun, reading the situation, saw Fang Xiu's expression and angrily said, "You damn son of a bitch, why don't you jump in yourself?"

The man waved his fan lightly, "I am just a scholar, I have no..."

Before he could finish, Bai Xiaochun kicked him into the lake.

"Damn it, if you won't jump, I'll help you!"

Splash—

After that, Bai Xiaochun patted his hands, returned to Fang Xiu's side, and fawned, "Master, what do you think?"

This kid knows how to get things done.

No wonder the previous one always brought him along.

Fang Xiu nodded faintly, "Well done."

He then unfastened the jade pendant from his waist, handed it to Bai Xiaochun, and instructed, "Hold it well."

Bai Xiaochun thought it was a reward and was humbly grateful, "Serving Master is my good fortune, not just from this life, but from a hundred lives. How can I accept a reward..."

Splash—

Before he could finish his flattery, another splash was heard from the lake.

Startled, he looked up to see his own master!

"Master, you mustn't!"

Without thinking, Bai Xiaochun stuffed the jade pendant into his robe and jumped into the lake without a word.

"Master, I'm coming!"

The guards of the Fang household, standing on the shore, looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

After a moment, a younger guard hesitated for a moment and then jumped into the lake.

With someone leading the way, the rest would be guilty of dereliction of duty if they didn't follow.

If the head steward asked when they returned to the manor, no one could escape responsibility.

The other guards exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and jumped into the lake one after another.

Splash—

For a moment, the sound of splashes filled the air.

Waves rippled across the lake.

The onlookers on the shore were amazed, "What's going on today, jumping into the lake in a queue?"

...

Fang Xiu never expected that his jump into the lake would cause such a commotion.

His intention was simply to save the woman who had fallen in.

Life is short.

Why be so desperate?

He had been chosen by the emperor to be a prince consort, and he had come to terms with it...

Okay, he hadn't really come to terms with it, but he certainly hadn't thought about committing suicide.

The woman had probably jumped into the lake on a whim.

Since he had seen it, he couldn't just stand by and watch, or his conscience would be troubled.

Fang Xiu was a good swimmer, and the lake was shallower than he had expected, with a depth of only about eight feet.

At his nearly six-foot height, he could barely stand in the water.

He swam to the center of the lake, pulled the woman out of the water, and carried her in his arms, stepping toward the shore.

The woman lay motionless in his arms, one arm dangling and swinging in the air.

The onlookers on the shore were alarmed.

Many tourists began to whisper to each other.

Could the woman have drowned?